LAWYER and immediate past chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has confirmed that indeed, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja and the embattled spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, were former classmates.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Metuh for illicitly receiving N400 million meant for the purchase of arms for the fight against Boko Haram.
Metuh’s counsel had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibrahim Auta, demanding that the case be assigned to another judge. The letter by Emeka Etiaba made public by the judge wanted the case transferred on grounds that Mr. Abang and Metuh were classmates at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. He also said he feared Metuh might not get fair trial from Abang because of some views expressed by the Judge when they met at a function in Akwa Ibom State last year.
In reaction, Justice Abang, said he was not aware Mr. Metuh was his classmate.
“I am not aware that the first defendant was my classmate”, he said.
But investigation has revealed that Justice Abang and Metuh graduated on the same day, November 3, 1988 from the law school.
Confirming this, Mr. Odinkalu said Justice. Abang “surely knows that he and Olisa went to school together.”
The outspoken former human rights helmsman said he was also in the same class with Metuh and Abang as well as some other prominent Nigerians.
“We were all in the same law school set in 1988. We were all admitted to the Bar same day on November 3, 1988.
“Fashola, Anyim, Godswill Akpabio, Liyel Imoke, Nnia Nwodo all were in that set. I know Olisa and Abang have been together at more than two class reunions. In Lagos, Uyo. Someone isn’t being totally candid,” he said.
Justice Abang had last Thursday asked prosecution and defence lawyers whether they were aware of the letter sent to the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court.
“Are you aware that after eight witnesses were called by the prosecution, and the court gave its ruling on an application of no case submission by the defence, that Mr. Emeka Etiaba wrote the registrar to the Chief Justice of the Court, asking that this case be transferred to another judge?” he asked.
According to the judge, the reason alluded by Mr. Etiaba for the request of transfer of the case was that the judge had given certain interlocutory judgments in favour of the prosecution, and that he (Mr. Abang) was Mr. Metuh’s former classmate.
The letter also alleged that the court had refused to give the defence recordings of the previous ruling.
“I am not aware that the first defendant was my classmate, he said he is my classmate,” said Justice Abang.